Cary McMullen is the religion editor of Lakeland, Florida's The Ledger. Although he seems to support teaching the mainstream view of evolution in the science classroom, this week he offers up his idea for opponents of evolution:
"Let those parents who have a religious scruple about this part of the curriculum sign a waiver exempting their children from learning it. My guess is that relatively few families would take this step.
This proposal would allow evolution to be taught as unqualified science to willing students, while those whose families object would not have to learn it in violation of their consciences. Both sides would get their way."
This proposal would allow evolution to be taught as unqualified science to willing students, while those whose families object would not have to learn it in violation of their consciences. Both sides would get their way."
A couple of years ago, I had a wonderfully talented student whose parents don't believe in germ theory on religious grounds. Should this young lady have been excused from learning about disease transmission in her biology class? What if a parent in the deep South disagrees with the mainstream, accepted history of the Civil War? Does this mean the son should be exempt from learning about the consensus view of the scholars and historians?
Although Mr. McMullen proposes what he sees as a compromise solution, it is more like offering a band-aid to the Black Knight's flesh wound. Exempting students from learning about the grand unifying theme of biology will not staunch the flow of fear and anti-intellectualism which seems to nourish the anti-evolution movement. Many vocal anti-evolutionists have promoted a bastardized, "talk-radio" version of evolution, a version which has little resemblance to the actual theory itself. If all students are required to learn the actual, scientific version of evolution, conflicts arising from such misunderstandings could be avoided.
It has been said that the answer to hate speech isn't to restrict speech, but to promote more free speech. The new Florida standards recognize the fact that the answer to ignorance of a scientific theory isn't to exempt students from learning about it, but to promote their understanding of the mainstream, accepted, REAL science.
Contact Mr. McMullen at cary.mcmullen@theledger.com.
posted by Cheryl Shepherd-Adams
